Technology

TL;DR: Live stream Galatasaray vs. Bodo/Glimt in the Champions League for free on Virgin Media Player. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The next round of Champions League fixtures includes some intriguing matchups, including Galatasaray vs. Bodo/Glimt. Both sides find themselves in the playoff spots after two games, but there's a lot of football left to be played. These teams will be looking at this fixture as an opportunity to secure three huge points.

If you want to watch Galatasaray vs. Bodo/Glimt in the Champions League from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Galatasaray vs. Bodo/Glimt?

Galatasaray vs. Bodo/Glimt in the Champions League kicks off at 5:45 p.m. BST on Oct. 22. This fixture takes place at Rams Park.

How to watch Galatasaray vs. Bodo/Glimt for free

Galatasaray vs. Bodo/Glimt is available to live stream for free on Virgin Media Player.

Virgin Media Player is geo-restricted to Ireland, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Ireland, meaning you can unblock Virgin Media Player to stream the Champions League for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Galatasaray vs. Bodo/Glimt for free by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in Ireland

4. Visit Virgin Media Player

5. Watch Galatasaray vs. Bodo/Glimt for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of the Champions League without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Galatasaray vs. Bodo/Glimt (plus more Champions League fixtures) before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for Virgin Media Player?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on Virgin Media Player, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including Ireland

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.95 (with money-back guarantee).

Live stream Galatasaray vs. Bodo/Glimt in the Champions League for free with ExpressVPN.

2025 was the year when two big companies decided to launch ultra-thin phones once again–Apple with the iPhone Air, and Samsung with the Galaxy S25 Ultra. Apparently, though, people don't like those—and even Apple is struggling to sell its own.

Are you getting ready to fly home for the holidays, but want to make sure your phone can stay charged on the trip? Carrying a portable power bank is an easy way to power up without a wall outlet—but how big can you go when flying?

If you have a list of values in a text file separated by a character (such as a comma or pipe) but would rather have each item on its own line, you can do the newline conversion automatically in Notepad++. Here's how.

Gmail has been my go-to email client literally since I started using email. But I recently tried one of its alternatives on my Android smartphone, and I like it so much that I'm not going back to Gmail again. I'm talking about Proton Mail.

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult to solve if you're fascinated by bugs.

Connections is the one of the most popular New York Times word games that's captured the public's attention. The game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for today's Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable What is Connections?

The NYT's latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications' Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.

If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for October 17, 2025 Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

Want a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

• Yellow: Small bills

• Green: Custom-made

• Blue: Insects

• Purple: Duplicate

Featured Video For You Connections: How to play and how to win Here are today's Connections categories

Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:

• Yellow: Utilities

• Green: Adapt to fit one's needs

• Blue: Kinds of ants

• Purple: Copy___

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections #864 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Utilities: ELECTRIC, GAS, TELEPHONE, WATER

• Adapt to fit one's needs: FASHION, MOLD, SHAPE. TAILOR

• Kinds of ants: ARMY, CARPENTER, FIRE, PHARAOH

• Copy___: CAT, PASTA, RIGHT, WRITER

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for October 17, 2025

Are you also playing NYT Strands? Get all the Strands hints you need for today's puzzle.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to the latest Connections.

Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you're an organized person.

Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game, requires the player to perform a twist on the classic word search. Words can be made from linked letters — up, down, left, right, or diagonal, but words can also change direction, resulting in quirky shapes and patterns. Every single letter in the grid will be part of an answer. There's always a theme linking every solution, along with the "spangram," a special, word or phrase that sums up that day's theme, and spans the entire grid horizontally or vertically.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable

By providing an opaque hint and not providing the word list, Strands creates a brain-teasing game that takes a little longer to play than its other games, like Wordle and Connections.

If you're feeling stuck or just don't have 10 or more minutes to figure out today's puzzle, we've got all the NYT Strands hints for today's puzzle you need to progress at your preferred pace.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for October 17, 2025 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for October 17, 2025 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Catch all

The words are related to miscellaneous items.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe random things that can be found at home.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Junk Drawer.

Featured Video For You Strands 101: How to win NYT’s latest word game NYT Strands word list for October 22

• Battery

• Pencil

• Coin

• Shoelace

• Thumbtack

• Tape

• Junk Drawer

Looking for other daily online games? Mashable's Games page has more hints, and if you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now!

Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to the latest Strands.

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you're a Tom Cruise fan.

If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for today's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for October 17, 2025 Where did Wordle come from?

Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once. 

Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.

What's the best Wordle starting word?

The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.

What happened to the Wordle archive?

The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.

Is Wordle getting harder?

It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn't any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle's Hard Mode if you're after more of a challenge, though.

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for October 17, 2025 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

A trick.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

The letter T appears twice.

Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...

Today's Wordle starts with the letter S.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. The Wordle answer today is...

Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution.

Drumroll please!

The solution to today's Wordle is...

STUNT

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for October 17, 2025

Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to the latest Wordle.

Happy Wednesday and welcome to your guide to Pips, the latest game in the New York Times catalogue.

Released in August 2025, the Pips puts a unique spin on dominoes, creating a fun single-player experience that could become your next daily gaming habit.

Currently, if you're stuck, the game only offers to reveal the entire puzzle, forcing you to move onto the next difficulty level and start over. However, we have you covered! Below are piecemeal answers that will serve as hints so that you can find your way through each difficulty level.

How to play Pips

If you've ever played dominoes, you'll have a passing familiarity for how Pips is played. As we've shared in our previous hints stories for Pips, the tiles, like dominoes, are placed vertically or horizontally and connect with each other. The main difference between a traditional game of dominoes and Pips is the color-coded conditions you have to address. The touching tiles don't necessarily have to match.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for October 18, 2025

The conditions you have to meet are specific to the color-coded spaces. For example, if it provides a single number, every side of a tile in that space must add up to the number provided. It is possible – and common – for only half a tile to be within a color-coded space.

Here are common examples you'll run into across the difficulty levels:

• Number: All the pips in this space must add up to the number.

• Equal: Every domino half in this space must be the same number of pips.

• Not Equal: Every domino half in this space must have a completely different number of pips.

• Less than: Every domino half in this space must add up to less than the number.

• Greater than: Every domino half in this space must add up to more than the number.

If an area does not have any color coding, it means there are no conditions on the portions of dominoes within those spaces.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for October 18, 2025 Easy difficulty hints, answers for Oct. 21 Pips

Less Than (5): Everything in this orange space must be less than 5. The answer is 4-1, placed vertically; 0-0, placed horizontally.

Number (6): Everything in this space must add to 6. The answer is 4-1, placed vertically; 5-0, placed horizontally.

Number (5): Everything in this space must add to 5. The answer is 0-0, placed horizontally; 2-3, placed vertically; 5-0, placed horizontally.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for Oct. 21 Pips

Less Than (5): Everything in this space must be less than 5. The answer is 4-5, placed horizontally.

Equal (2): Everything in this light blue space must be equal to 2. The answer is 0-2, placed vertically; 2-2, placed vertically; 2-6, placed vertically.

Number (30): Everything in this space must add to 30. The answer is 2-6, placed vertically; 6-6, placed horizontally; 6-4, placed horizontally; 6-5, placed horizontally.

Equal (4): Everything in this purple space must be equal to 4. The answer is 6-4, placed horizontally; 0-4, placed vertically.

Equal (0): Everything in this dark blue space must be equal to 0. The answer is 3-0, placed vertically; 0-4, placed vertically.

Equal (3): Everything in this orange space must be equal to 3. The answer is 3-0, placed vertically; 1-3, placed vertically.

Equal (1): Everything in this red space must be equal to 1. The answer is 1-1, placed horizontally; 2-1, placed horizontally; 1-3, placed vertically.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for Oct. 21 Pips

Greater Than (3): Everything in this space must be greater than 3. The answer is 4-5, placed vertically; 3-2, placed vertically.

Number (8): Everything in this space must add to 8. The answer is 4-5, placed vertically; 3-2, placed vertically.

Less Than (1): Everything in this space must be less than 1. The answer is 1-0, placed horizontally.

Not Equal: Everything in this space must be different. The answer is 3-5, placed vertically; 4-6, placed vertically.

Number (10): Everything in this space must add to 10. The answer is 3-5, placed vertically; 5-6, placed horizontally.

Number (12): Everything in this space must add to 12. The answer is 4-6, placed vertically; 5-6, placed horizontally.

Number (6): Everything in this space must add to 6. The answer is 2-2, placed horizontally; 0-6, placed vertically; 2-1, placed vertically.

Number (11): Everything in this space must add to 11. The answer is 0-6, placed vertically; 5-1, placed horizontally.

Equal (1): Everything in this red space must be equal to 1. The answer is 2-1, placed vertically; 5-1, placed horizontally.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Today's Connections: Sports Edition is simple if you understand baseball statistics.

As we've shared in previous hints stories, this is a version of the popular New York Times word game that seeks to test the knowledge of sports fans.

Like the original Connections, the game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier — so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for the latest Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable What is Connections: Sports Edition?

The NYT's latest daily word game has launched in association with The Athletic, the New York Times property that provides the publication's sports coverage. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.

If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake — players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. Here's a hint for today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

Want a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

• Yellow: Located in NYC

• Green: Basketball champions

• Blue: Shoes

• Purple: Graphic design

Featured Video For You Connections: How to play and how to win Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:

• Yellow: New York Basketball Teams

• Green: Last Four NBA Champions

• Blue: Famous Sneakers

• Purple: Found in NBA Team Logos

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections: Sports Edition #394 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• New York Basketball Teams - KNICKS, LIBERTY, NETS, ST. JOHN'S

• Last Four NBA Champions- CELTICS, NUGGETS, THUNDER, WARRIORS

• Famous Sneakers - AIR JORDAN, FOAMPOSITE, PUMP, QUESTION

• Found in NBA Team Logos - BRIDGE, MUSIC NOTE, PICKAXE, SHIP

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new sports Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to today's Connections.

The final days of October are upon us, and that means Halloween is this close to scratching on your door. 'Tis the season, yes, but now is when you want to dive into some of those classic horror movies that have stood the test of time, and that continue to stand out as iconic entries in the genre. Right now, HBO Max is home to some of the most iconic horror movies ever made, but they are scheduled to vanish soon, so now is your last chance to see them.

I used to love watching car shows on TV when I was growing up. It's where I saw the latest cars, and learned a lot about how cars worked and the history of these incredible machines.

When Apple launched the iPhone Air, the big question wasn't whether the phone will be good; Apple doesn't often produce bad phones. The question was whether there's a demand for a thin iPhone in the first place.

Judging by a new report from Nikkei, the demand is there but it's very low.

The report, published Wednesday, claims that Apple is "drastically" cutting iPhone Air production while boosting other iPhone 17 models instead. This is due to lower than expected demand for the iPhone Air, but also because the demand for the iPhone 17 and the iPhone 17 Pro models has been "unexpectedly robust."

Nikkei's sources say that the iPhone Air originally accounted for "roughly 10% to 15%" of overall new iPhone production this year. However, the production has now been cut "nearly to end of production levels."

In particular, one supply chain manager told Nikkei that production orders for the iPhone Air from November onward will be less than 10 percent of the volume compared with September.

One (imperfect) way to check the demand for various iPhone models is to look at shipping times on Apple's website. For example, the orange iPhone 17 Pro ships in 1-2 weeks while the white iPhone 17 ships in 2-3 weeks. But the iPhone Air is readily available for immediate shipping, no matter which color you choose.

SEE ALSO: Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max review: The mighty workhorse we needed

I've reviewed all three models and found the iPhone Air to be (by far) the most beautiful and elegant of them all. But it has shorter battery life and a less versatile camera than both the iPhone 17 and the iPhone 17 Pro, and it appears that buyers care about that more than they do about thinness.

If you’ve ever glanced down mid-run and noticed a USB port on your treadmill or your gym’s treadmill, you’ve probably wondered what kind of stuff you could plug into it. While the obvious answer is that it’s mainly there to make updating the treadmill’s firmware easier, that’s far from its only purpose.

SAVE $50: As of Oct. 22, the 11-inch Apple iPad (A16 chip, 128GB, WiFi) is on sale for $299 at Amazon. This is 14% off its list price of $349, saving you $50.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPad 11-inch $299 at Amazon
$349 Save $50   Get Deal

Black Friday sales are coming up fast, but the even better news is Amazon already have some great deals available. In particular, quite a few Apple devices are on sale right now. The 11-inch Apple iPad is on the list, dropping back below $300 for a limited time.

As of Oct. 22, the 11-inch Apple iPad (A16 chip, 128GB, WiFi) is on sale for $299 at Amazon, a 14% discount from its list price of $349. Ultimately, that saves you $50. We consider this model to be among our picks of the best iPads, so it's well worth picking up at this low price.

SEE ALSO: Scary: Best Buy will start dropping early Black Friday deals on Halloween

This 11-inch Apple iPad is powered by the A16 chip and features a sleek Liquid Retina display that'll make images on your screen look crisp and bright. This particular model boasts 128GB of storage, so you have plenty of space for all your favorite apps.

We consider this iPad to be the best option on a budget. Mashable's Samantha Mangino said it, "Doesn't possess the flair of the Pro or Air, but it is a testament that Apple can still produce good entry-level tech."

Don't miss out on the 11-inch Apple iPad (A16 chip, 128GB, WiFi) down to $299 at Amazon. And if you're looking for even more Apple deals at Amazon, you can also save big on the 2025 MacBook Air M4 there right now.

So you’ve just had a wake-up call. An internet outage that affected Amazon’s AWS infrastructure took Alexa, Ring, and countless other services down for hours. You just found out, first-hand, how risky it is to depend on the cloud for your smart home setup.

SAVE $900: As of Oct. 22, the Bluetti Elite 200 V2 portable power station is on sale for $1,099 after clipping the coupon on Amazon. This is $900 off its list price of $1,999.

Opens in a new window Credit: Bluetti BLUETTI Elite 200 V2 Solar Generator with 200W Solar Panel $1,099 at Amazon
$1,999 Save $900   Get Deal

Amazon has had some excellent discounts on portable power stations lately, even before Black Friday sales kick off. Among them is this major deal on the Bluetti Elite 200 V2 portable power station, which is down to its lowest-ever price at the retailer right now thanks to a coupon.

The Bluetti Elite 200 V2 portable power station is usually listed for $1,999, but clipping this coupon drops its price down to $1,099. This marks its lowest-ever price according to price tracker camelcamelcamel, which has its previous lowest price listed at $1,198.99. Now is a great time to make your move on this popular model.

SEE ALSO: Scary: Best Buy will start dropping early Black Friday deals on Halloween

The Bluetti Elite 200 V2 boasts a 2,073.6Wh capacity and 2,600W (5,200W peak) AC output. It can power nine devices at once, with four AC outputs, two 15W USB-A outputs, two 100W USB-C outputs, and a 120W car port. This portable power station also comes with a 200W solar panel, which allows it to be recharged in about 13.5 hours.

No need to wait for Black Friday to score a portable power station deal — act fast to save on the Bluetti Elite 200 V2 right now at Amazon.

This isn't the only deal floating around on a Bluetti portable power station, either. If you're looking for more from this brand, you can also save on the new Bluetti Pioneer Na(Sodium) portable power station.

SAVE OVER $5: As of Oct. 22, the Pokémon TCG Black Bolt Binder Collection is $50 at TCGPlayer, compared to $55 at Amazon.

Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokémon Company Black Bolt Binder Collection $50 at TCGPlayer
$55 Save $5   Get Deal

Everyone has their eyes on Mega Evolution and Phantasmal Flames, but I'm focusing on Black Bolt and White Flare right now, which has an Illustration Rare or Secret Illustration Rare for every Unovan Pokémon split over two sets. If that doesn't sell this deal for you, I don't know what will.

If you're just after booster packs, this works out at $10 per booster plus a cool binder to pop your pulls in. So if you need a spare binder, this is perfect. It's not a hard shell binder though, so I wouldn't be putting your $900 Rayquaza VMAX in this bad boy.

SEE ALSO: Where to buy Pokémon cards in 2025 — avoid overpaying or missing out on new sets

Black Bolt and White Fare did a couple of firsts for Scarlet and Violet. One is the dual format, splitting the massive set into two parts. The other is introducing Black White Rares, that look similar to gold rares but use one primary color and shades to make up the artwork. Unlike the gold rares of old, these are some of the most valuable cards in the Scarlet and Violet era.

Most valuable Black Bolt and White Flare Pokémon cards Credit: Mashable Photo Composite / The Pokémon Company

As you might have guessed by now, having an Illustration Rare or Secret Illustration Rare variant for every common and uncommon Pokémon card makes it harder than usual to pull top chase cards. The current market values reflect this, but it's probably going to work out a lot cheaper just to buy the Pokémon card you're after instead of pouring money over Black Bolt and White Flare sealed product:

1. Victini – 171/086 – SV: Black Bolt
   Near Mint Holofoil: $519.99
   Market price: $498.21
   Most recent sale: $399.99

2. Victini – 172/086 – SV: White Flare
   Near Mint Holofoil: $422
   Market price: $29.30
   Most recent sale: $427.78

3. Zekrom ex – 172/086 – SV: Black Bolt
   Near Mint Holofoil: $500
   Market price: $455.44
   Most recent sale: $399.99

4. Reshiram ex – 173/086 – SV: White Flare
   Near Mint Holofoil: $367.93
   Market price: $367.23
   Most recent sale: $387.90

5. Zekrom ex – 166/086 – SV: Black Bolt
   Near Mint Holofoil: $239
   Market price: $241.90
   Most recent sale: $239.99

6. Reshiram ex – 166/086 – SV: White Flare
   Near Mint Holofoil: $188.65
   Market price: $198.12
   Most recent sale: $190

MARKET VALUE: As of Oct. 22, the Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Booster Bundle is $52.94 at Amazon, a rare instance of Pokémon TCG selling for market value compared to TCGplayer.

Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokémon Company Mega Evolution Booster Bundle $52.94 at Amazon
$59.99 Save $7.05   Get Deal

Looking for your Mega Evolution fix? Given that Phantasmal Flames is just around the corner, it's hard to keep up with new Pokémon TCG expansions. Mega Evolution base is off to a flying start, with some cracking deck builds hidden away such as Mega Venusaur ex and Meganium, and now Amazon is selling the Booster Bundle for $52.94, which is the market value price on TCGplayer right now.

SEE ALSO: Where to buy Pokémon cards in 2025 — avoid overpaying or missing out on new sets

This deal is nice and simple, six booster packs for a price worth paying. The Mega Evolution mechanic works a lot better than in the X and Y days. Instead of concentrating on having powerhouse ex and Mega ex decks, standard evolution mechanics remain.

So taking Venusaur for example: You would need to follow the Bulbasaur, Ivysaur to Mega Venusaur ex. Mega Pokémon can also be basic Pokémon, such as Mega Absol, to shake up gameplay somewhat. Overall it works well and it makes for far more entertaining gameplay and strategy building.

Most valuable Mega Evolution Pokémon cards Credit: Mashable Photo Composite / The Pokémon Company

Looking to just get the chase cards that you're after instead of potentially throwing more money at ripping booster packs? Here's the top chase card from Mega Evolution alongside their values and where to buy them:

1. Mega Gardevoir ex - 187/132
   Near Mint Holofoil: $503.99
   Market price: $564.49
   Most recent sale: $499

2. Mega Lucario ex - 188/132
   Near Mint Holofoil: $537.99
   Market price: $553.53
   Most recent sale: $530.10

3. Mega Gardevoir ex - 178/132
   Near Mint Holofoil: $279.99
   Market price: $305.92
   Most recent sale: $285.94

4. Mega Lucario ex - 179/132
   Near Mint Holofoil: $294.97
   Market price: $298.44
   Most recent sale: $387.90

5. Mega Venusaur ex - 177/132
   Near Mint Holofoil: $244.99
   Market price: $202.49
   Most recent sale: $187.70

SAVE $20: As of Oct. 22, the Amazon Fire Stick 4K is on sale for $29.99 at Amazon. That's a 40% saving on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire Stick 4K $29.99 at Amazon
$49.99 Save $20.00   Get Deal

Amazon has a whole lot of great products that can make your ife easier. From Alexa speakers to great TVs, something that shines above them all (in my humble opinion) is the Fire TV Stick. This is a small device that plugs into your TV or laptop, basically anything that has an HDMI port. Once this is plugged in, you're good to go. Your TV will now be equipped with the Fire OS, and all your favorite shows and apps will be able to reach in one place.

SEE ALSO: What's new to streaming this week? (Oct. 17, 2025)

I recently said that the Fire TV Stick 4K was the best thing I bought in this year's October Prime Day, and weeks later this is still true. It's easy to set up, easy to use, and it has made streaming Netflix, Prime Video and any other streaming platform so much easier. It also comes with a remote that can control your TV directly, with no need for any others. A big plus if, like me, you lost your TV remote and have been controlling it from the side panel for at least three years...

How about all this, with a discount? As of Oct. 22, the Fire TV Stick 4K is on sale again, reduced to $29.99. That's a $20 saving, and just slightly above its best Prime Day price. So head to Amazon and get this low price before the deal runs expires.